Minister wants closer cooperation on EU social policy

In August 2000, Norway's main employers' and trade union confederations were invited by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development to a briefing on industrial relations developments and policies in the EU. The aim is to establish closer cooperation between the Nowegian social partners and national authorities on EU social and employment policy.

On 22 August 2000, the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sylvia Brustad, invited Norway's main employers' and trade union confederations to give her a briefing on industrial relations developments and policies in the European Union. The aim is to establish closer cooperation among the Norwegian social partners and national authorities on EU social and employment policy. Ms. Brustad's initiative is a follow-up of the February 2000 call by her predecessor, Odd Roger Enoksen, to establish a national social dialogue, mirroring the EU-level dialogue (NO0003180N).

Cooperation on EU social policy

The initiative taken by the minister is an attempt to bring the Norwegian social partners together in order to establish a national dialogue on developments in working life and on EU policies in this area (Norway is not an EU Member State, though it is part of the European Economic Area, EEA). Like her predecessor, Ms Brustad recognises the fact that the Norwegian government can exert influence on developments at the EU level only to a limited extent, but that social partner organisations may nevertheless participate in the EU social dialogue through their membership of European-level trade union and employers' organisations. The minister stated in a press release that the government appreciates the work done by the Norwegian social partners in European organisations and forums, and emphasised the paradox of Norwegian authorities having to rely on others for up-to-date information on developments at the EU level. The aim is to create a cooperative scheme that may be used to further Norwegian interests and policies in the EU.

The initiative envisages a more comprehensive cooperation between the relevant actors in Norwegian working life. It will include regular meetings at the political and administrative levels, as well as discussions and information exchange. All the major social partner organisations are invited to take part, and relevant ministries will also participate as they see fit. A common denominator for this activity will be a focus on the social partners' involvement in the social dialogue at the central EU level. Ms Brustad's proposal is similar to that of her predecessor, who called for the establishment of three coordination bodies: twice-yearly meetings between the social partners and ministers; case-by-case meetings between officials and the establishment of a "mini-secretariat".

A public committee's report on the future of Norwegian working life, which was made public on 2 December 1999 (NO9912167F), also called for greater coordination of Norwegian participation in the development and implementation of EU social policy Directives. The committee stressed the need to introduce institutionalising measures, including a social dialogue at the national level in Norway, which will enable the relevant social partner organisations, decision-makers and ministries to meet frequently to discuss important EEA and EU issues.

Commentary

In Norway there is a general fear among policy-makers and practitioners of being side-lined with regard to developments at the EU level, including social and employment policy. One such worry relates to what is seen as a trend towards the transfer of social and employment issues to higher levels of decision-making authority within the EU, a development that will contribute to further diminishing Norway's influence. Furthermore, the general impression among Norwegian decision-makers and social partners is that the EU is becoming less interested in including the other EEA countries in formulating and making policy. Thus, the new initiative to encourage closer cooperation among national-level social partner organisations and decision-makers is first and foremost an attempt to promote Norwegian interests and to improve mechanisms to enhance Norway's influence vis-à-vis the EU. However, this initiative is not just motivated by national self-interest and a fear of losing out, but also by a general wish to coordinate efforts in order to make the national consideration and implementation of, for example, new and old EU Directives, more efficient. Improved coordination and institutionalisation of relations between the government and the social partners will, beyond doubt, be an aid to the implementation of EU standards in various areas of working life, such as the working environment and employee rights. (Haavard Lismoen, FAFO Institute for Applied Social Science)